Tractor



F. L. GLADISH.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG.27. |911.

f1 ,314,391 Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

dummy( F. L. GLADISH.

TRACTOR. APPL|cAT1 on min AuG.21. 19u.

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F. l.. GLADISH.

TRACTOH. APPLICATION FILED ^uG.21. 1911.

1,314,391. -A Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

r 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TRACTOR.

AFPLICATION FILED AUG.27, |917.

NUNrrED STA'rnsaErENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. GLADISH, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TRACTOR.

l'u IH rc/mm it may Voce/1a. 1

llc it Iknown that l, Ifuwxit L. (lLAnisn, a citizen ot the lnitcd States ot' America, residing atl`)etroit, in they county ot Wayne and State ot' A\Iichign\n, have invented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in Tractors. of which the 'following is a specification` reference being had therein to the aocompau \'ing drawings.

This invention relates to tractors, and has special reference to a tractor that is characterized in the following' particulars: l"irst. the tractor is ot' that type having two power traction wheels ot considerable width and a single or double trailer wheel or caster at the reall end ot the machine. 'l`he widc tract'or wheels or drumsI are disposed t'or lateral tilting so that the main t'ralne or bod) ot' the tractor may be self balancingl or sclt' adjusting irrespective. ot' the inclination .o't the wheels. tractor so constructed possesses many advautaffes among which ma)Y be mentioned its extensive useI on t'arms. .\t present, what is commonly I--tvled "round wheel tractors `in contradistim'tion to those ol" the caterpillar type, may be onl used a l'ew monthsin each yc-ar on account 4o'tl tield conditionsl but with wheels or traction members ol considerable width and having a tilting action it is possible to use the tractor ,l'or'ull kinds oltield work and on ground that would `prohibit the use of tractorsl other than otj the caterpillar type. wheels also admits ot the tractor being used on hilly or irregular ground withon any danger ol' capsizng. i

Second` the main 'trame or body of the tractor extends into the traction wheels or members and constitutes stationary hubs with the traction wheels or members in rolling relation thereto; the power being transmitted 'to theI traction wheels or members.

contiguousto the periphery thereof and at, such points as to insure a positive application ot' power where the greatest resistance may be encountered, thus avoiding stresses and strains which otherwise may tend to rack and dismember the. tractor. Tn applying power at such points where the greatest resistance is eiwonntered they application ot' the power tends to increase. the traction ol' the machine. and all o-t' this is accomplished irrespective ot' the position ol thel traction wheels and members relative to the power plant, At the Same time that,

Specification of Letters Patent.

The tilting action ot' the traction l Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

.Applcatimi filed August 27, 1917. Serial No. 18l8,476.

provision is made for applying power to the rims of traction wheels or members, means is employed within said wheels or members to relie 'e the power plant. ot' shocks and' vibrationst lat'may be set. up when the traction wheels or members encounter obstacles or irregular ground, and such means is distributed so as to lend Some weight to the traction wheels or members and thus increase `the traetive power of the machine.

Third, my tractor is further characterized by a novel diti'ereutial mechanism associated with a transmission ,mechanism So that besides obtaining ti1'st,"seco11d. and third speeds through the transmission mechanism, ity is possible to obtain the reverse or backward movement ot the tractor through the ditl'ercntial` mechanism and utilizesaid ditl'erential mechanism t'or power steering. Cooperating witl. the ditlerential mechanism what may he considered a brake mechanism by which one tlitl'er.utial mechanism may he held so that one ot' the tractor wheels or members will be operated in a reverse direction to the other. and in consetpience of lsuch an arranca-ment` it is possible to power steer the tractor and turn the same within itso'wn length. 'l`hs feature alone contributcsl to the extensive use ot the tractor in restricted areas.I |au'ticularlv where cultivating" work is to be carried on in the corner of a field.

Fourth. thc tractor may not only he used tor ordinary tractor purposes. but provision is made so that the same may be used as a ctruck. and it is in this connection, that the machine includes a construction by which a load may be carried iu t'ront ot' thev tractor wheels or members and other work, such as the operation ot' stationary tarm implements. is performed b v having a winch or pulley in direct alinement with the drive Shaft ot the power plant to he operated thereby. 'lhis may be accomplished by hav- 'mg the transmission mechanism ot the tractor in neutral position so that the tractor will remain stationaryl while the power plant is employed for imparting movement to a winch or pulley and suitable. means may be employed as planetary or reduction gearing for reducing the speed ot the, winch or pulley relative to the power plautfwhen such reduction is necessary.`

ltitth` as will be hereinfter set forth, it is possible, on account of the width or size of the traction wheels. 91; Amembers to 1ocate individually operated power plants, as gasolene or Steam engines, within the traction `wheels or members, for driving' 4the wheels or members according to the speed of each individual power plant and consequently being, able to power steer the tractor fby which my invention may be defined, and others w1l1 appear as the nature .of the inj zontal section showing the mechanism with! with the member 2 protruding from the vention is better understood, with particular reference tothe drawings and the detail description thereof.

In-the drawings,

Figure 1 is aplan of the tractor with oneV of the wheels or members thereof in `a horiin said wheel or member Fig. 2is a side elevation of the tractor showing the hood4 or main casing by dot and dash lines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the transmission and differential mechanism, partly broken a 'ay and partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a transmission mechanism taken on the line IV- IV of Fig'. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a similar view showimgr the differential mechanism mechanism therefor;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a traction wheel or member partlyv broken away and partly in section;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same;

Fig'. 8 `is a similar view of the traction wheel or member with the mechanism therein shown in elevation;

Fig; 9 is al side 'elevation of. a traction Wheel or member having a power plant located therein; and y Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of a. brake applying mechanism;

In describing my invention by aid of the views above referred to` I desire to point out that the same are intended as merely illustrative of the operatable machine as now constructed, and I do not care to confine my invention to the precise construction and varramggfmnent of parts shown.

The following description is therefore to be broadly construed as includingr such substitute constructions and arrangement of parts Whichare'the obvious equivalent of those to be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes side frames of the tractor body`or mam frame, said slde` fran'ies beingconnected by transverse members 2, 3 and 4 and brake applying` sides of the frame l So as to eoperate therewith in supporting platforms 5`or load receptacles. The'rear ends of the frames 1 are connected by a bearing G for the pivot pin or king bolt 7 of a fifth wheel S carried wheel `10. The rear truck' constitutes a swiveled trailer wheel or caster.

The frames l are preferably made of channel bars and said frames have the front ends thereof inset, as at 1l. and bent outwardly to provide lateral extensions.l 12; the end portions of said side frames providing clearance for traction wheels or members duringa power steering operation.

Arranged in parallelism with the lateral extensions -12 of the frame 1 is a transverse frame 13 havinga central depressed por-` tion providing clearance for a combined transmission and differential mechanism casing:r 14, sai'd casing being suitably connected to theV frame 13 and havinga-earward and by a rear truck S) havinga single or double side extensions lla and llconnected to the l frames 1 ami-lateral extensions 1L) thereof, respectively. The teasing 1i has a dctachf able cover 17 so that easy access may be had to the interior of said casing, and the rearward part of said casing provides a ,worm compartment 18 and the front/part of said casing a transmission compartment 20, while an intermedii'lte part of said casing provides a differential compartment 1S).

The side frames l and the transverse connectingi` members 2, 3 and Je thereof support a suitable power plant 2l. which may 1ncludea conventional form of internal combustion engine, a ily wheel and clutch casing",` cooling and ignition systems. controllimer devices and such appurtenances as contribute to a powerful and economical source of power. The power plant :'21 has lan engine or drive shaft 22 extending forwardly and longitudinally through the casingr Il, said shaft having the l'ront end thereof provided with a winch or pulley 255 so that the power plant may be utilized, when the tractor is stationary. for operatingr various kinds of farm implements.

Journaled in the comlmrtmenls 1S) and 2l) of the casing ,'14 are parallel shafts 2l and and these shafts, within the transmisl sioncompartment 2i), are provided with a series of gear wheels 26 adapted lo be engaged by shiftable gear wheels 27 and 2S slidably keyed on the drive shaft l22 and adapted for rotation therewith, so that. lirst, second and third speed may be,y imparted io and 28 are shownin Fig. 3, in neutral position and a conyentional form of gear slnft- `ing.;- mechanism, generally denoted :29, in

Figs. 3 and 4, may be employed.

In the. differential compartment li) of the casing '14 theeshafts 2i and have rc- 4-`with the confrontin duced ends' :to extending into the ends of worm shafts y31 and 12 Ijouriialed in the worin compartment IS of thc easing 14, the shafts Ill and 32 longitudinally alining with the shafts 21 and,25 respectively, and free to revolve relative to said shafts. The differential mechanisms of the alining shafts 2li and 31 and 25 and 32 are identical in construction, thercfoi'e I deem it only necessary to refer to one of said mechanisms 'in detail and then later on consider the relative action ofsaid mechanisms.-

ln the ditl'erential compartment 1!i, the confronting ends of the shafts have fixed beveled gear wheels 33 and 3 and meshing faces of these beveled grax-*wheels areI differential beveled gear wheels 35 rotatable on inwardly projecting stud' shafts 36 carried by a brake drum 3T having a hub portion 38 loose to revolve on the hub of the beveled gear wheel 33. The front end of/tlie brake drmn 37 has a friction disk clutch composed of disks 39 carried by the drum 37 and disks 40 carried by a clutch member 11 slidably keyed on the.

shaft 24 and adapted for rotation therewith. Engaging the 'front end .of the clutch member -11 is a peripheral flange 42 of a cup shaped pressure member 43, said member having a sleeve slidable on the shaft 24. In tle cup shaped `pressure member 43 and encircling the sleeve 45 thereof is a coiled compression spring 45 said spring extending into the cupped portion 46 of a cap 47 closing the front end of the brake drum 37. The expansive force of the spring 45 is sufficient to hold the disks 3!) and 40 normally in contact so as to establish a driving relation between the shaft 24. and the brake drum37.

The sleeves 45 of the pressure members 43 have heads'slS and engaging said heads 'are the forks 4i) of rods 50. By shifting the 'rods 5() the springs 45" may be placed under compression to relieve the pressure of the mjeiiiber 13 against. the clutch member thereby allowing the brake drum 37 to remain stationary relative. to the shaft 24 far as the clutch member 41 is concerned.

The, brake drums 37 are adapted to be engaged and held by brake bands 51, and there are shown two forms of meclianisinfor actuating the brake band. Reference will first 'be had to Fig. 5, showing an end of each brake band loose on a rock shaftv 52 joui'- iialcd in the casing lfl and depending bearings of thc cover 17. brake band is also .loose on the rock shaft and encircling said rock shaft between the ends of the brake band is a coiled compression spring 53, the expansive force of saiif spring holding the ends of the band normally separated and said brake band loose relative to the brake drum. Fixed on the rock shaft 52 is a collar/5i adapted to engage a caiu on one end of the brake band The other end of the.

and shift this end ol' the brake band toward the other end ot' the brake band. thus applyingr the brake band to the brake drum to hold or` retard the movement of the same. The end of the rock shaft 52 has a crank 5t; and a rod 57 connected thereto facilitates rocking the shaft to set the brake baud.

The other form of brake band actuating mechanism is shown in Fig. 1() and each brake band is controlled by wedge members 58 and 5U both of which are slotted. as at titl, so as to provide clearance for a tic rod til' between the ends of the brake band. 'llie wedge member 5H is connected to a rod (32 and the wedge member 5h to a rod ($3. the latter adapted for opei'atioii in s vm-hronism with the steering mechanism of the tractor and the former operatahle for reverse lspeed, as will hereinafter appear.

The lateral extensions l2 of the4 sido frames 1 and the ends of `the transverse frame 13 are provided with bearings til for a transverse rigid rod (35. Fixed on the ends of the rod (i5 are the bearing members 66 of elliptical springs G7, said s rings having the lower leaves thereof provided with bearings (SH for rock shafts (if). r1`he rock shafts (39 extend through slotted guides 7U depending from the extension l2 vand the frame 13, so that said rock shafts may only have a vertical movement relative to the extension 12 and the frame 13. 'lhe ends of each rock shaft (Si) are journaled `in an upright 71 and end bracket 72 of a gear casing 73, having the outer side thereof provided with a detachable cover 7.1. 'llie manner of suspending the gear casing 73 is such that said casing may liave a vertical movement relative to the extension 12 and the frame 13, and through the medium of the rock shaft (it), have a lateral. tilting movement. The lateral tilting movement is limited b v lugs 75 (see Figs. 1, 2 und 8) on the upright 71 adapted to engage the extension 12 and the frame 13, and also by top and bottom lugs 76 and 77 (see Fig. 8) carried by an upright 78 (see Figs. 1, 7 and 8) Abetween the extension 12 and the frame 13'to engage said extension and frame. The upright 78 forms a rectangular franie bolted to journal boxes 7!) formed integral with the casing 73.

Jouriialed in the boxes 7!) are shafts SO provided with gear wheels 81, within the casing 3"', meshing willi a gear wheel 82 mounted on a shaft 83 journaled in the casing 73 and the cover 74 thereof, the gear wheel 82 being adapted to impart movement above the gear wheels 81. 'lhe shaft 83 has the iimer end thereof provided with a universal joint 8l, and said universal joint is connected by an extensible. shaft 85 to another universal joint 86, carried by the end of a shaft 87 journaled in one side of the casing 14 at ,the worm compartment 18 thereof. On t-lie shaft 87, within the worin compartment: 18, is a large spur wheel 88 meshing with a worm 89 on the shaft 31.

Demoiiiitable relative to the gear casing 73, extensions 12 and the frame 13, at each Side of the tractor, is a wide traction `wheel o`r member 90 that may have the periphery` or rim thereof provided with spnds or tread members so that said wheel may obtain a firm purchase or footing onvarious kinds of soil.4 The inner annular wall of the wheel or member 90 hns two circular rails 91 and 92, adjacent the sides thereof constituting a track and adapted for a rolling action relative to said rails are wheels 93 and 94 mounted on the ends of the shafts S0 of the journal boxes 79.I The wheels 94 engaging the rail 92 `have"peripheral side flanges S15-and at the outer sides of one of the wheels 93 arepins 96 provided with anti-friction'al rollers 97, thus converting one of the wheels 93 into a roller pinion or pin wheel. The roller pinion is adapted to engage a circulai'- rack 98 carried b v the rail 91 and it is throughthe medium of the rack and pinion ythat; power is transmitted to the traction wheel orginember 9() from the ti'aiii ofgears in t-lie casing) 73 and from the universal flexible shaft driven from the shaft 97.

The uprights '(1v ai'e braced relative. to the journal boxes l79 and the gear casing 73 b'y webs 99 and slidable between said uprights is a housing 100 fior la revoluble flange. wheel 101 that engages the oliter rail 91. 'llie housing 100 is supported between the up'- rigljts T1 b v 'an adjustable member 192 engaging `the top of the gear casino 73. said adjustable i'nemher being in the forni of a screw or turn buckle which will permit of` the housing 100 being raised or lowered.

With either side of the tractor, adjacent one of the, wheels or member 90. jacked up or otherwise elevated. the member 102 can be adapted to lower the housing 100 and in' constajuence of such adjustment, the wheel or` member 9() is lowered toward the ground moving the rails 9 1 and 92 out of engagement with the wheels 93 and 94. Further movement of' the member 102, carries the wheel 101 out of' engagement with'the rail 91' particularly when the wheel or member 90 reaches the ground, blit with the wheels 93 and 9-1 oi'itiof' engagement with the rails 91 and 92, the wheel or member 9() can be lifted sidewise from the ends of the exten-v sions 12 andthe frame 13, thus exposing all snuioth periphery for rolling or road work i `or it wheel having spuds or tread inen'ibers, ter field or ln'll work. Then agaln easy aecess can be had to the mechanism for repair, lubrication or adjustment purposes. With the traction wheels removed the wheels 93 can be removed from the shaft S0 and the cover 7i removed from the gear. casing 73y 70" when it is necessary toinspeet the interior of said casing. As a matter of fact, all parts are assembled so that! the same may be readily attended to by the operator of' the tractor, and this is a desideratuin, by 75 farmers who must, as' a generalrule, make all repairson the farm. j

Considering the operatioimif the tractor,

it is obvious that with the gear transmission` mechanism' in the department 2t) of the cas- 80 ing 11 that first, second or third speeds may be imparted toA the shafts 24 and 25 from the engine or drive shaft 22 and that the operation of this drive shaft ma v be controlled in the iisnal manner.' that is through a 85 differential mechanisms are independently controlled. it is possible to drive one .of the traction wheels forward alid the other rearward. this causing the tractor to turn about practically in its own length, and even while` i both differentials are set for a reverse or backward movement of the tractoi'` it is possible through the steering mechanism to let up one of the'brake bands so that one traction wheel will be more active tliaiitlie other,

and thus steel' the tractor when backing. 105

This may b'e accomplished through the. brake band actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 10, as after the brake bands are set by` t-lie rod (i2 for reverse 'movenicnt, tlic.rod (i3 may be shifted. to `let up on either of t-lie brake hands, andthus cause an inequality `intlie operation of the traction wheel which will cause the tractor to move in a desired direcl tion when backing.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings. there -isillus`` i115 trated a slight modification of my invention.` wherein a power plant 103 is located in each traction wheel or member. The juxtaposii tion of the'power plant to the -gear casing 101'is` suchv 'thatthe driven crank shaft of 1920 the power plant may he coupled to'a shafti 108. similar to the sha ft. U3, orihave the shaft' 10H `as a prolongation of the crank shaft.

'ith each traction wheel having an individual power plant. the operation of the .125-

tractor will, be controlled.solely by the power plants. thus eleininating differential and transmission mechanism and increasing the area of the tractor f ranie or body for other purposes,

To recapitulate, 1t will observed that the sets ol Wheels 93, 94 and th`e wheels 101 will maintain the traction wheels in proper relation to the driving mechanism suspended 5 from the rock shafts (39; that said rock shafts permit of the individual driving mechanism laterally tilting with the trac' tion wheels while the wheels are being driven and this is accomplished by the universal joints and extensible shaft between the gear casings 78 and the shafts 87 operated by the Worm shafts 31 and While the'tlexibility of the traction wheel is limited by the stop lugs 75, 76 and 77, relative to the main frame o1 body of the tractor, yet there is sufficient movement and clearance for the traction wheels so that the tractor may be operated over very indurate, irregular 0r hilly ground.

lVhat I claim isz- 1. In a tractor, traction` wheels, longitudinal rock shafts in said wheels yieldably supported by said tractor and supporting said traction wheels tor a limited lateral tilting movement relative to said tractor,

e rails in said wheels, driven wheels in said traction wheels engaging said rails and imparting movement to said traction wheels,

means common to said traction wheels adapted for operating said driven wheels during the tilting action of said traction wheels, and other wheels movable to and from said rails and maintaining a driving relation between said driven wheels and said traction wheels.

2. In a tractor, the combination with a trame, gear casings extending from the sides of said frameand having a cushioned vertieal movement relative thereto, traction wheels about said gear casings, racks in said traction wheels, a train ot' gears in earh gear easing, wheels engaging said raeks and driven b v said train of gears, means extending into said gear easings t'or operating ,saidtrain otf gears, and adjustable wheels `imiintaining said racks in operative relation i to'the wheels meshing therewith.

3. In a tractor, the combination ot a main frame having side extensions and frames,a 5U power plant on said main trame, traction wheels about the side extensions and frames ot' said main frame` `trimnions yieldably supported behpv the side extensions and t'ra'mes of said main frame and supporting` said traction wheels for a tilting movement at the sides ot' said frame, driven wheels in said traction wheels operated from ,said power plant and adapted tor imparting movement to said traction wheels, and other wheels in said traction wheels maintaining a driving relation between said driven wheels and said traction wheels.

4. In a tractor, the combination with a lmain frame, and a power plant thereon, of

`to and from the outer 'ails so that said traction wheels may be demounted relative to all of the other of said wheels, and means in said traction wheels operated fliom said power plant during any tilting action of said traction wheels for imparting movement to the wheels therein.

5. In a tractor, thercomhination with a main frame and a power plant thereon, of tiltahle traction wheels at the sides of said frame, inner and outer rails in said traction wheels, a plurality of wheels engaging said rails with certain ot' said wheels establisl-iing a driving relation with said traction wheels, and means including a train of gears and an extensible shaft operated from said power plant tor imparting movement to certain of said wheels.

6. In a maehine ot' the character described, the eon'ibination ot' a rotatable traetion member, a trame extending into said member and pivotall)r and yieldably supported therein to permit otfther traction member to tilt laterally. and means adapted for imparting motion to said member.

7. In a machine ot' the charaeter described, the combination ot' a pair ot' traetion wheels` traeks within the interior of said wheels, a ltrame extending into said wheels,l wheels to travel on said traeks, means including roel: shat'ts and springs for supporting said 'trames relative to said wheels. aml means on said t'rame in eaeh wluieljt'or imparting movement. to the wheels supporting said frame.

8. In a machine of the eharaeter deseribed. the. combination ot' a pair of traetion wheels, a frame extending into eaeh wheel. means in each wheel ineluding springs and roel( shafts so that the wheel may tilt laterally relative to said frame,and means in each wheel 'for imparting movement thereto.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presenre ol" two witnesses.

FRANK L. (lLADISll.

Witnesses vLewis E. l `l\Nm-:as, ANNA M. Donn. 

